RC Flying Site Issues Due To Li-Po Fires
08-08-2012, 02:38 PM
#1
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RC Flying Site Issues Due To Li-Po Fires
An RC flying site in my area has been closed to all aircraft due to a aircraft crash and subsequent fire caused by a badly damaged lithium polymer battery. I’m trying to collect data and information about any types of similar crash incidents, and in-flight fires, that other clubs may have experienced at their RC Flying Sites. I’m NOT looking for agreement or disagreement, or statements such as I’ve been flying Li-Po’s for seven years and never had, or heard of any problems. I just want to collect data and facts about fires caused by lithium polymer batteries at RC Flying Sites. I don’t need any opinions. If you can’t offer data and facts about site restriction or closures, don’t waste your time and mine. It would be greatly appreciated if you could provide as much info as you can to the following questions. If you don’t know or aren’t sure, responding Don’t Know (DK), or Not Applicable (NA) is fine. Thanks in advance for your responses.
1. Club name and AMA Chapter Number:
2. Have li-Po batteries been banned at the RC Flying Site by:
a. Site Owner
b. Fire Department/Fire Marshall
c. Voluntary by the Club
d. Other
3. Has your Flying Site been closed to all RC model aircraft operations by:
a. Site Owner
b. Fire Department/Fire Marshall
c. Voluntary by the Club
d. Other
4. Effective date of ban or closure:
a. Is it seasonal (Such as only during high fire season months)
5. Type of aircraft involved in incident:
a. Park Flyers/Foamies
b. Trainer or Larger Sport Model
c. High Performance such as F5B or F5D
d. Electric Ducted Fan (EDF)
d. Motor Glider
e. Other
6. Li-Po battery size in Milli-Amp Hours:
7. Has your club experienced more than one such incident:
8. Any other facts or data you would like to add:
Such as charging incidents, vehicle fires, garage/shop fires, etc.
Thanks again
TJ Moran
1. Club name and AMA Chapter Number:
2. Have li-Po batteries been banned at the RC Flying Site by:
a. Site Owner
b. Fire Department/Fire Marshall
c. Voluntary by the Club
d. Other
3. Has your Flying Site been closed to all RC model aircraft operations by:
a. Site Owner
b. Fire Department/Fire Marshall
c. Voluntary by the Club
d. Other
4. Effective date of ban or closure:
a. Is it seasonal (Such as only during high fire season months)
5. Type of aircraft involved in incident:
a. Park Flyers/Foamies
b. Trainer or Larger Sport Model
c. High Performance such as F5B or F5D
d. Electric Ducted Fan (EDF)
d. Motor Glider
e. Other
6. Li-Po battery size in Milli-Amp Hours:
7. Has your club experienced more than one such incident:
8. Any other facts or data you would like to add:
Such as charging incidents, vehicle fires, garage/shop fires, etc.
Thanks again
TJ Moran
08-08-2012, 05:53 PM
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RE: RC Flying Site Issues Due To Li-Po Fires
Sounds just like C A L I F O R N I A doesn't it?
I witnessed two LIpo fires at two different clubs here in Michigan and we are still open. And for that reson I won't answer all your questions. There is no reason to upset the apple cart !!!
I witnessed two LIpo fires at two different clubs here in Michigan and we are still open. And for that reson I won't answer all your questions. There is no reason to upset the apple cart !!!
08-09-2012, 05:10 AM
#6
RE: RC Flying Site Issues Due To Li-Po Fires
. Club name and AMA Chapter Number: The Oklahoma Radio Kontrol Society (TORKS) AMA 1648
2. Have li-Po batteries been banned at the RC Flying Site by:
a. 3. Has your Flying Site been closed to all RC model aircraft operations by: NO, open and in operation since 1961 on Oklahoma City Parkland property
5. Type of aircraft involved in incident: NA, I've been a member since 1994, and the only fire related problems were caused by passing motorists w/cigaret butts
6. Li-Po battery size in Milli-Amp Hours: NA
7. Has your club experienced more than one such incident: NONE
2. Have li-Po batteries been banned at the RC Flying Site by:
a. 3. Has your Flying Site been closed to all RC model aircraft operations by: NO, open and in operation since 1961 on Oklahoma City Parkland property
5. Type of aircraft involved in incident: NA, I've been a member since 1994, and the only fire related problems were caused by passing motorists w/cigaret butts
6. Li-Po battery size in Milli-Amp Hours: NA
7. Has your club experienced more than one such incident: NONE
08-09-2012, 08:42 AM
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RE: RC Flying Site Issues Due To Li-Po Fires
Red Barons R/C flying club, AMA #151, est. 1968.
www.redbarons.org
600' x 45' PAVED runway, outlying weedy area cut, cut and re-cut to where its just short of being nonexistent to negate the possibility of fire moving far or fast, two water based fire extinguishers on site..
Club down the road a piece sustained a *really* large fire that had a lot of folks worried about that club getting booted. Only thing that saved their collective souls was fire started small, first on-scene responders thought(?) they would turn it into a controlled burn/ control exercise.
Upshot of the story was several acres up in flames including a barn full of hay and small tractor. Local news heli was on site, was ugly to see it happen.
AMA stepped up, blame was placed on local FD for being dumb, that club is still in biz.
Btw, fire was started (i have been told) by a liquid fueled heli crash.
Fire is a fire is a fire, origin or cause comes as an afterthought when all is said and done. We all fly energy powered devices, any can cause harm. Its up to each individual to make sure their flying machine (big or small, liquid fuel or electric) ) is as safe and as well constructed as possible.
My half a buck on this,
Gary Smith, president of RB R/C F/C
www.redbarons.org
600' x 45' PAVED runway, outlying weedy area cut, cut and re-cut to where its just short of being nonexistent to negate the possibility of fire moving far or fast, two water based fire extinguishers on site..
Club down the road a piece sustained a *really* large fire that had a lot of folks worried about that club getting booted. Only thing that saved their collective souls was fire started small, first on-scene responders thought(?) they would turn it into a controlled burn/ control exercise.
Upshot of the story was several acres up in flames including a barn full of hay and small tractor. Local news heli was on site, was ugly to see it happen.
AMA stepped up, blame was placed on local FD for being dumb, that club is still in biz.
Btw, fire was started (i have been told) by a liquid fueled heli crash.
Fire is a fire is a fire, origin or cause comes as an afterthought when all is said and done. We all fly energy powered devices, any can cause harm. Its up to each individual to make sure their flying machine (big or small, liquid fuel or electric) ) is as safe and as well constructed as possible.
My half a buck on this,
Gary Smith, president of RB R/C F/C
08-09-2012, 11:43 PM
#8
Senior Member
RE: RC Flying Site Issues Due To Li-Po Fires
To me, model related gasoline or kerosene fires are more dangerous than LiPo fires, in terms of immediate fire size.
Some of the Russian turbine powered model jet crashes and resulting fires (Utube) were quite impressive.
I'm old enough to remember mono control line models with ram and pulse jet engines. Those were a fire hazard when things went wrong!
As a kid, I watched one go up that had a magnesium belly pan.
Some of the Russian turbine powered model jet crashes and resulting fires (Utube) were quite impressive.
I'm old enough to remember mono control line models with ram and pulse jet engines. Those were a fire hazard when things went wrong!
As a kid, I watched one go up that had a magnesium belly pan.
